Monthly Archives: July 2008

Here is a post about the soon to be failed experiment of providing housing to the homeless in Austin. I love the guy behind this project, believe he wants to do what Jesus wants him to do, and this project is just another example of what we can do when we work together to do kingdom work. The reality of life in America will often provide resistance to those who follow Jesus, but that’s okay. We are not called to seek a life of comfort and safety, but instead to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and sometimes that is an unpleasant, unconventional, and even a dangerous endeavor.

However, when I read about his project and the backlash, I have to ask myself…“Would I want this trailer park in my neighborhood?” I don’t know how I would answer this question, I don’t have to answer it for now. I would like to say that I would welcome this project to our neighborhood and that I could love them as I love my current neighbors. Honestly, I can’t know what I would do, but I’m willing to struggle with it so that someday when you’re older you are better prepared to make those decisions.

If, and when you are faced with hard questions I want you to be patient with yourselves, to be honest, to truly search what you think is best for you and your family. But, I hope you will weigh these thoughts against what you know is the right thing to do for the other people involved in the situation. Remember, you have been greatly blessed, and to whom much is given, much is required.

You’ll have those days, when nothing seems to be right, and that you can do nothing right…

But, those days will pass and if you need to talk, call me or come by and see me…

Dan Uggla makes another error in 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

This guy in the picture (Dan Uggla) had a really bad night on the biggest stage (2008 All Star Game) in the “House that Ruth Built”. He made 3 errors (2 on consecutive plays), grounded into a double play to kill a rally, and struck out 3 times.

He had a really bad night, but if you ask him 20 years from now about playing at Yankee stadium, he’ll only remember the dreams of his childhood growing up in New York to play on that field.

You will have days like that, but just know that they will pass, and that as you look back on those times they are often days that help form you into the person you have become. So, be careful and use your failures to learn and remember you are loved by me, your mom, and God.

If you learn to trust that you are beloved, regardless of what you do, you can return from even the worst of decisions. Soon I’ll share with you the story of Josh Hamilton, who has learned to love himself, his family, and his God. He had a great night in Yankee stadium the night before Uggla had his nightmare.

I really want to stress the importance of the “third way” of Jesus, and for you to understand it’s not about ideas (yours or anybody else). You belong to this new millennial generation that is making the older generations rethink many things, but you don’t have a monopoly on correct thinking. It’s about knowing in your heart that the right thing to do, is not always the easy thing to do and that the ideas of others are most often not those of people who choose to follow Christ, even if they proclaim Him.

Soccer moms, NASCAR dads, and now holy hipsters have been touted by political pundits and the mainstream media as the group du jour that political candidates must court in order to win the coveted presidential prize. Using select books and blogs, they conclude that these missional millennials have abandoned the political party of their parents and will be casting their ballots for Obama come November. However, as Jim Wallis wrote earlier this year, “This doesn’t mean young evangelicals are automatically becoming Democrats (and I don’t think they should). It does mean that their agenda is broader and deeper, no longer beholden to a single partisan ideology.” —Becky Garrison “Jesus For President: Declaring Independence from Partisan Politics”.

If you intend to live what you proclaim when you follow Christ, you do not have any agenda other than to love. Politics is important, the needs of your family are important…but nothing is more important than your love for each other, for God, and for all others. That’s easy to say, but hard to live. I want you to understand the difficulty of this life I hope you will choose to engage, but I want you to know it is the best way to live.

When you fight and bicker, and compete for who gets to sit in that favorite spot on the couch…It’s hard for me to help you see, but I know that you love each other. When I was a kid, we had twin brothers who seemed to constantly fight, physical, brutal fistfights. But, if anybody ever had an issue with one, the other had his back. Sibling relationships are tough, I know that you know that, but I want you to know that you should remember to be thankful for each other. As time goes by, I think you’ll learn to believe that regardless of circumstances.

I know, I know… He’s not to talk of these matters. He’s running for President of the U.S. Separate church and state, the government shouldn’t get involved in faith (or it’s already too involved). I get the arguments from both left and right, but damn it sure is refreshing to hear somebody talk about doing kingdom work and knowing they have actually participated in such activities. And, the fact that he’s running for President is a bonus. Yes, Bush said some of the same things, and we know that didn’t turn out so well. But, I just hope there is something different about this Obama…

Now, I didn’t grow up in a particularly religious household. But my experience in Chicago showed me how faith and values could be an anchor in my life. And in time, I came to see my faith as being both a personal commitment to Christ and a commitment to my community; that while I could sit in church and pray all I want, I wouldn’t be fulfilling God’s will unless I went out and did the Lord’s work.

There are millions of Americans who share a similar view of their faith, who feel they have an obligation to help others. And they’re making a difference in communities all across this country – through initiatives like Ready4Work, which is helping ensure that ex-offenders don’t return to a life of crime; or Catholic Charities, which is feeding the hungry and making sure we don’t have homeless veterans sleeping on the streets of Chicago; or the good work that’s being done by a coalition of religious groups to rebuild New Orleans.

You see, while these groups are often made up of folks who’ve come together around a common faith, they’re usually working to help people of all faiths or of no faith at all. And they’re particularly well-placed to offer help. As I’ve said many times, I believe that change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, and few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques.

That’s why Washington needs to draw on them. The fact is, the challenges we face today – from saving our planet to ending poverty – are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck. —Barack Obama July 1 2008 “Faith and Community”